Driving in Hong Kong

There are about 285 licensed vehicles for every kilometer of road in Hong Kong: You can easily imagine what driving in Hong Kong must feel like during rush hour. Traffic jams are normal for all drivers in the city, and the search for a parking spot can quickly turn into a nightmare.

It’s hardly surprising that lots of people prefer using the public transport system to driving. Nevertheless, the number of fatal driving accidents per resident is actually lower than in other countries. The government is continually making driving regulations stricter and penalties more severe to maintain safety.

If you are sure you want to be driving in Hong Kong, check our section on cars in Hong Kong to learn all about importing your own car and buying cars. There you’ll also find information on driver’s licenses.

General Facts

A major nuisance of driving in Hong Kong is the fact that there seem to be more cars than space in the city. The density of cars is among the highest in the world, and due to the limited amount of space, it is difficult to build new roads to accommodate the increasing numbers of vehicles.

As a consequence, the streets are usually extremely crowded and traffic jams are a common phenomenon. To get real-time information on traffic conditions on the major routes, you should check these snapshots of traffic condition and live webcasts.

Road signs are both in English and Chinese, so finding your way around town should not be more difficult than in other major cities. If you are looking for a specific route, go to the convenient Driving Route Search Service provided by the Transport Department.

Local gas prices are relatively high, especially when compared to those in other major cities on the Chinese mainland or in the US. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay as much for gas as you would in most European countries.

Parking

Parking spots are also relatively rare and very costly – unless you happen to know parking spaces that many others have not yet found. For a list of car parks, have a look at the parking section on the Transport Department website.

Furthermore, there are almost 18,000 parking meters and other short-term parking options. Do not park illegally if you do not want to risk having your wheel clamped or your entire car towed away.

Toll Roads

If you already know you are likely to pass a toll tunnel regularly, and you do not want to start rummaging through your pockets for change every time you go driving, you can use the Autotoll prepaid electronic toll collection system.

The Chinese Border

Even if you have a local Hong Kong driver’s license and a vehicle registered in Hong Kong, you cannot simply drive across the border to China. It is necessary to get permission from the Chinese authorities first. This government website on cross-boundary driving in Hong Kong tells you exactly what you need to do in order to obtain that permission.

We do our best to keep this article up to date. However, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is always current or complete.

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